Tree Giveaway for Limestone County Tornado Victims

ATHENS, Ala (WHNT) — On a cold February morning in Athens, dozens of volunteers handed out hundreds of trees. The group, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful, hopes to help with the rebuilding process from the April 27, 2011 tornadoes.

Boxes of trees from the Alabama Forestry Commission will help reforest areas that were hardest hit. The group had 5,500 trees to give away, including different types like Sycamore, Dogwood, Red Maple, American Hop Hornbeam and Crepe Myrtle.

Limestone County residents came to pick out their new trees. Representatives of Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful said the people seemed thrilled about the trees. They were grateful to be able to reforest their properties.

The reforesting project is a priority for the Alabama Forestry Commission, since trees also provide habitat to animals and shade for the earth.